Valsad’s youth activity

"We are planning one event every month,” stated businessman and part-time mobed Ervad Adil Zaroliwala (38) who earlier this year revived the Valsad Parsi Youth Association that had been moribund since 2012-2013. Their second function in the new avatar, a blood donation drive at Valsad Parsi Anjuman’s Bejan Baug on April 28, 2024, saw 18 community members stepping up to the cause. "Baddha ék platform par aavé… Baccha o motta o ék bija né orkhé (Everyone should be on the same platform… children and adults should know each other),” he says, voicing his rationale for reviving the Association. They had a Jamshedi Navroz event on March 21, 2024.

Zaroliwala estimates the Parsi population of Valsad at 500. The surrounding towns of Pardi, Atul and Arnala would have "about 20 to 30” community members. He does mobedi at the Seth Mota Shapur Daremeher and bemoans that at some funerals there are no attendees besides the corpse bearers and two mobeds.

The annual membership fee for the Association is Rs 1,000. Those over 65 years of age are admitted without charge. The Association is not a registered trust. "Pehlé ék varas chaalé toh registration karsu (If it runs for a year we will consider registration),” stated Zaroliwala. He acknowledged the support of Valsad Parsi Anjuman Trust Funds in allowing the Association to use Bejan Baug free of cost.

The next event is a day picnic for children up to 13 years of age, of which he estimates there are 22 or 23. F. J.